Category: 8. Building Maintenance

Attack of chemicals and acids, proximity to marine environment, thermal variations, entrapped air, leaching because of the presence of hydrated compounds, etc. can also end up in problems to the structure.

Poor workmanship is one of the most important causes of problems in buildings. Inadequate control in batching, mixing, transporting, placing, compacting, finishing and curing of concrete leads to various problems including spalling, segregation, poor strength etc. Often insufficient cover is provided for reinforcement. Poor quality formwork and poor preparation of joints also cause discomfort.

Use of poor quality materials, physical and chemical properties of concrete, increased water–cement ratio, etc. are also some of the major reasons.

Poor design is a major cause of structural failure. This may include load underestimation, poor mix design, poor specification, poor analysis, poor foundation etc.

Concrete is the most important construction material and today the worldwide consumption of concrete is 8.8 billion tons per year. Concrete, although a very durable material, can exhibit strength loss and deterioration over time for a variety of reasons.

A safe and trouble-free structure is the dream of every engineer and resident. As far as medium and small buildings are concerned, leaks and cracks are the main cause of concern. An engineer or supervisor should be able to identify the type of inconvenience or damage and the cause of the malfunction, so that he…